Predictably enough, a final concert in front of a home crowd sees the band playing to a packed audience of dedicated fans, and determined to go out (or not, as it happened) with a bang. Maybe the band look a bit long in the tooth these days, but given their music is slow and heavy – rather than reliant on thrashing around energetically – they mature rather than tire with age. Admittedly frontman Messiah Marcolin appears somewhat comic onstage, but the band are clearly past masters, as close ups of the musicians reveals.

Sadly disc two is rather a let down. Rare live clips from Swedish shows 1987-93 will of course be appreciated by completists – who I guess the music DVD format is primarily marketed at – but are of only ‘home camera footage’ quality. The 55 minute interview with the band, meanwhile, is informative about the band history, but has to be watched with subtitles (unless, of course, you understand Swedish), so again only for patient or obsessive fans, and most of those will probably know it already. Still, I don’t suppose this show is expected to pick up more than a few new fans in passing. For old fans, it will be great to see the band in action again, and for those newcomers attracted by the album it will be worthwhile to see a slice of the band’s history.

(3˝/5)

Release Date: 03 October 2005

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The Curse of Candlemass